1999 Fiat Seicento Sporting Abarth review from UK and Ireland

Clutch cable snapped (the hook on the end broke away)

Steering tracking seems to constantly become knocked out of alignment.

Exhaust rear silencer rusted away and chrome trim part badly corroded (but then again this is a consumable I suppose?)

Drivers seat belt is very slow to reel itself back in.

Large main fuse in the radiator fan circuit blew, and caused the car to over heat and boil off all the coolant, (temperature warning light didn't come on until after the car had started to steam and over heat)

An odd groaning noise from the rear suspension when you exit the car sometimes?

Despite the relatively minor faults this car really is a pleasure to own.

Its fantastic buzzy little 1.1 engine doesn't sound particularly nice, nor does it provide much "shove" but it is very nippy, allowing you to scrabble away from the traffic lights, and generally get you from A to B as quickly as you like!

It handles quite well also (in the dry!) and is very predictable and safe, but the brakes do not have a reassuring feel at all which is surprising considering the very low weight they have to arrest?

The Seicento sporting, (especially in black) it has to be said, is a very pretty car. With the optional Abarth kit (14" alloys and low profile tyres, side skirts and rear spoiler) it even has embroidered scorpion logos on the headrests! The leather steering wheel has a nice chunky feel to it and in general the interior is very spacious and well thought out.

There are many gripes and complaints you could make though, for instance the engine could do with a little more power, it doesn't seem to have much traction in the wet, often spinning the wheels and understeering during normal driving? The tyres are very very expensive for the size, and many fitters do not carry them in stock, so they have to order them specially. The car suffers badly over rough surfaces, and the steering rack seems to be too weak for use on British roads. Every few months the steering requires tracking again, and this is with careful avoidance of speedbumps and potholes etc!

But to dwell on these minor faults and shortcomings would be missing the point. It is a cheap, little car, great fun to own, very fuel efficient, and can be driven to within an inch of its life and just shrug it off.

Its at its best when being hustled down fast A-roads, and country lanes!!

They really are so much fun to own and because of the ultra cheap running costs you can afford to get in and go for a long drive (just for the sake of it) and the fuel gauge will hardly move.

So far on mine the engine hasn't burst, nothing major has fallen off, and the paintwork and body are in excellent condition! I think it's one of the best small cars available.